Glossary of basic freight transport terms

The transportation industry has a unique lexicon, largely rooted in a long history of transportation. The vocabulary can be a bit overwhelming and confusing for a newcomer.

We will explore some of the most used terms here:

Decrease – A discount allowed for damages or surcharges

Accessory – Some service that is not considered “standard” and that will incur additional fees. This can include in-house delivery, insurance, liftgate service, and other services.

Bill of lading (BOL) – Essential shipping documents indicating relevant names and addresses, places of origin and destination, description of the goods shipped, payment instructions and other relevant information.

Booking – Organization of cargo transportation by a carrier.

Van – A closed freight car

Conveyor – The transport entity that undertakes to move the cargo by rail, truck, sea, air or any combination of these modes.

Bearing – Transportation of local cargo (as opposed to interstate or international) in trucks

Say – A claim made to the carrier for payment due to damage or other losses as a result of the carrier’s negligence in transportation.

Classification – Qualification assigned for a particular type of product, generally identifying the size, value, and difficulties inherent in the transportation of that product. The correct class is imperative for an accurate freight quote

Luggage – The person or company to which the freight is sent.

Consignor – The person or company identified as the sender of the freight.

Container – A large metal box that resembles the body of a truck trailer that can be shipped via ship or rail and then attached to a trailer chassis for later transportation, containers come in many sizes and types

Stowaway – When a truck delivers a load and then completes a leg of a trip without a load

Declared value – A shipper can sometimes receive a lower rate if they declare a lower than actual value for a shipment, this can be risky in the event of a loss.

Density – Cargo weight per cubic foot, this measurement is important for an accurate freight quote

Double drop – An open bed trailer with a raised section in the front and rear and a lower section in the middle that can be used to haul unusually high cargo

Clutch – Local transportation of cargo by truck Same as Bearing

Container – Refers to a 53 ‘trailer that can be heated or ventilated but not cooled

Exception -When a carrier receives a shipment (usually at its terminal), the carrier notes any actual or suspected damage to the cargo prior to transportation

Transport – Used in a number of different ways, it can refer to actual cargo or charges charged to a shipper by a carrier for transporting that cargo.

Gross weight – Accumulated weight of cargo, packaging and wagon or cargo container

MAKE MAT – Dangerous material

Intermodal – Use of multiple modes of transport to move cargo containers; It can include sea, rail, road and air transportation.

LTL or less than a pickup – Shipment where the load is not large enough to require a full truck on its own, LTL shipments are generally in the 100-pound to 20,000-pound range

NMFC – National classification of freight transport by motor (see Classification about)

Piggyback – An intermodal transportation arrangement in which loaded truck trailers are placed on a rail car and moved to a destination

PRO number – The tracking number assigned by the carrier to a specific shipment.

Proof of delivery – Delivery receipt of a shipment

Puppy – A short trailer used in conjunction with another short trailer to create a twin or tandem trailer

Quote or quote – An offer to provide freight transportation at a specified price based on certain information and shipping terms.

Reefer – Refrigerated container or trailer

Stack train – A special railway car that can transport containers stacked in two heights.

Step cover – An open trailer with a standard deck section at the front and a drop-down section at the rear, used to carry higher cargo.

Tare weight – The weight of the empty wagon or empty container in rail, sea or intermodal shipments.

Tariff – A publication that establishes the rates and requirements of a specific transport company.

Terminal – An area where cargo is organized and prepared for loading and shipping to its final destination, cargo will often go to a carrier’s terminal after it is picked up and then placed in another container or trailer for transportation to his destiny. unloaded at a terminal before being staged and placed for final delivery

TL – Truck loading (where the amount of cargo is enough to fill a full trailer or container

Tractor – The power unit used to pull a trailer.

Trailer – The part of the truck in which the load is loaded and transported.

Ventilated trailer – A trailer with small openings in the walls to allow outside air to circulate when the doors are closed.

Storage -Load storage

While this list may seem long, there are hundreds of other industry terms and phrases that you may come across. Whether you are a newbie or seasoned submitter, you may hear a new term from time to time. Feel free to contact us to find out what any transport related word means at any time.